New Orleans Back on Top:
It’s been almost a decade since Hurricane Katrina and to say New Orleans has recovered is the ultimate understatement. The city earned a number of accolades in 2014, including, “Best Culinary Destination” in the small domestic category by Saveur Magazine, one of the “World’s Best Cities” by Travel + Leisure, “5th Friendliest City in the U.S.,” and, “Best American Cities for Foodies,” by Condé Nast Traveler plus it ranked as a top destination for both Labor Day and Spring Break based on Orbitz Insider Index. Tourism has increased exponentially in the past 10 years, up 150 percent since 2005, bringing in a record-breaking $6.7 billion for the city. In addition to tourism, The Big Easy attracts hundreds of meetings and conferences. In 2015, there are already 46 conferences scheduled that will each bring in 3,000 attendees or more.
“These numbers aren’t surprising when considering the ‘something for everything’ outlook the city offers,” said Christie Crawford, New Orleans market manager for Orbitz.com. “History buffs will flock to the city to celebrate the bicentennial of the Battle of New Orleans this January, as well as visit the National World War II Museum, car racing fans can experience the first IndyCar event in New Orleans in April 2015 and music aficionados can enjoy festivals, including the Voodoo Art and Music Experience and the iconic New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.”
The Toronto International Film Festival, Sept. 10-20, 2015, is the largest publicly attended festival of its kind. Drawing tourists from all over the globe, many films that debut at the Festival often become the talk of Hollywood during awards season. The festival generates about $230 million in tourism revenue and brings in more than 27,000 out-of-town visitors.
For those craving the thrill of sport, the 2015 Pan American Games taking place July 10-26, deemed “the single-largest multi-sport event ever held in Canada,” are sure to deliver. The Games are expected to bring as many as 350,000 visitors to the province of Ontario.3 While 12 of the competition’s 30 world-class facilities are located in Toronto, including a new athletics stadium, aquatics center, field house, and Pan Am Athletes’ Village, all of the Games are within driving distance from the city.
Known as Asia’s World City, Hong Kong is an ideal first stop on a vacation to China. With almost three quarters of the city made up of countryside, there’s a major metropolis among mountains, bijou islands and indented coastline. The region ranked seventh on Orbitz.com list of top international destinations in 2014, based on hotel and airfare bookings. Travelers to Hong Kong can experience tourist highlights including the views from Victoria Peak, Tian Tan Buddha, Man Mo Temple and Stanley Market, as well as international culinary flavors from street vendors and upscale restaurants. Hong Kong is also a shopper’s paradise with its famed Ladies’ Market, stretching nearly a mile with more than 100 street vendors.
A trip to Hong Kong can easily be combined with stops in Beijing, a cultural hub of Asia and capitol city of China, and Shanghai, a modern city with unrivaled historical sightseeing. In Beijing, tourists can experience the Forbidden City, Great Wall of China, Summer Palace and sights from the Beijing Games. The city is also the ideal launch pad for a trip to Xian, the starting points of the Silk Road and home to the world-famous Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. In Shanghai, visitors can get a sense of the country’s economic development while taking in sites such as City God Temple, Yu Garden and the Shanghai Museum.
Both Beijing and Shanghai offer great hotel deals with five-star luxury hotels available from $149 (and often less) on Orbitz.com almost year-round.
“These numbers aren’t surprising when considering the ‘something for everything’ outlook the city offers,” said Christie Crawford, New Orleans market manager for Orbitz.com. “History buffs will flock to the city to celebrate the bicentennial of the Battle of New Orleans this January, as well as visit the National World War II Museum, car racing fans can experience the first IndyCar event in New Orleans in April 2015 and music aficionados can enjoy festivals, including the Voodoo Art and Music Experience and the iconic New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.”
Toronto To-Do List:
While Toronto has remained a constant on global tourism destination lists over the past 12 months, Orbitz.com has seen a nearly 40 percent growth in travelers to the city, and a wealth of events in 2015 are helping this fan-favorite destination shine even brighter this year.
The Toronto International Film Festival, Sept. 10-20, 2015, is the largest publicly attended festival of its kind. Drawing tourists from all over the globe, many films that debut at the Festival often become the talk of Hollywood during awards season. The festival generates about $230 million in tourism revenue and brings in more than 27,000 out-of-town visitors.
For those craving the thrill of sport, the 2015 Pan American Games taking place July 10-26, deemed “the single-largest multi-sport event ever held in Canada,” are sure to deliver. The Games are expected to bring as many as 350,000 visitors to the province of Ontario.3 While 12 of the competition’s 30 world-class facilities are located in Toronto, including a new athletics stadium, aquatics center, field house, and Pan Am Athletes’ Village, all of the Games are within driving distance from the city.
China on the Rise:
With recent visa changes, the door is opened for more tourism exchanges in both directions between the U.S. and China. Plus, U.S. and Chinese flag carriers have added more flight routes making it much easier to get to – American Airlines recently launched non-stop flights to both Beijing and Hong Kong from Dallas-Fort Worth, and Air China initiated Washington Dulles-Beijing service, among others.
Known as Asia’s World City, Hong Kong is an ideal first stop on a vacation to China. With almost three quarters of the city made up of countryside, there’s a major metropolis among mountains, bijou islands and indented coastline. The region ranked seventh on Orbitz.com list of top international destinations in 2014, based on hotel and airfare bookings. Travelers to Hong Kong can experience tourist highlights including the views from Victoria Peak, Tian Tan Buddha, Man Mo Temple and Stanley Market, as well as international culinary flavors from street vendors and upscale restaurants. Hong Kong is also a shopper’s paradise with its famed Ladies’ Market, stretching nearly a mile with more than 100 street vendors.
A trip to Hong Kong can easily be combined with stops in Beijing, a cultural hub of Asia and capitol city of China, and Shanghai, a modern city with unrivaled historical sightseeing. In Beijing, tourists can experience the Forbidden City, Great Wall of China, Summer Palace and sights from the Beijing Games. The city is also the ideal launch pad for a trip to Xian, the starting points of the Silk Road and home to the world-famous Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. In Shanghai, visitors can get a sense of the country’s economic development while taking in sites such as City God Temple, Yu Garden and the Shanghai Museum.
Both Beijing and Shanghai offer great hotel deals with five-star luxury hotels available from $149 (and often less) on Orbitz.com almost year-round.
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